to all of us. -- were a gift to all of us. the last months of his life or in many ways the sweetest of the seasons because he get to see how much we all love him, respect him, and how unbelievably grateful we are for a stunning years of service and friendship. and what a year he had, my friends. he accomplished more in that span of time than many senators do in a lifetime. mental-health parity, the tobacco act, health care bill out of his committee. he spoke at the democratic convention. he wrote his memoirs. and he was there for the signing of the edward m. kennedy service america act and receive the medal of freedom from the president and a knighthood from the queen of england. i think many of you who were there would agree with me that perhaps one of the most poignant moments of all was when he was awarded an honorary degree from harvard. his staff through the years was gathered in the front, and friends and family and admirers were scattered throughout the audience and filled the room, and vice